Dumbarton Oaks
A historic estate on the Georgetown hillside, its terraced gardens counted among America's most beautiful, along with collections of Byzantine and pre-Columbian art.
Dumbarton Oaks was originally the residence of diplomat Robert Woods Bliss and his wife, Mildred. They donated it to Harvard University in 1940, and in 1944 the Dumbarton Oaks Conference, which laid the groundwork for the United Nations, was held here. The gardens, designed by landscape architect Beatrix Farrand, cover about 11 hectares. Following the slope, they include a rose garden, a wisteria pergola, a pebble garden, a cherry grove, and an oval lawn, and are at their best in spring. The museum holds Byzantine gold and silver objects, mosaics, and pre-Columbian artifacts from the Americas, and admission is free. The gardens are open Tuesday to Sunday afternoons. During the peak season from March to October, admission is about US$11. Fees are lower in winter, and the gardens are closed on Mondays. Located on R Street in northern Georgetown, it is about a 15-minute walk from the shopping district on M Street and can be visited together with Georgetown.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun; gardens about 14:00–18:00 (earlier closing in winter), museum 11:30–17:30
Nearby sights
- Georgetown
- The Phillips Collection
- Washington National Cathedral
- John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
- Smithsonian's National Zoo
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- National Mall & Lincoln Memorial
- The White House